Memphis, TN
Optometry Schools | Private Non-Profit
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Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 15% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview very impressive with a low stress level and felt they did well.
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
SDN Interview Experience Score
9.1
Exceptional
Outstanding interview experience: exceptionally organized, highly professional staff, strong communication, and very low stress.
Based on 273 responses
Score Reference:
9–10 Exceptional
8–8.9 Very Good
7–7.9 Good
6–6.9 Mixed
< 6 Needs Improvement
The SDN Interview Experience Score (SIES) is a composite metric that represents applicants overall impressions of their interview experience, based on multiple factors such as professionalism, facilities, responsiveness, and stress levels.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as low stress.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
Positively (100%)
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
Great (64%)
Good (32%)
Average (4%)
What are your general comments?
Applicants generally found the interview experience at SCO to be laid-back, conversational, and welcoming. They recommend being yourself, staying relaxed, and engaging in genuine conversations during the interview process.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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I enjoyed my visit, wish I could have stayed in Memphis longer to check out the city more. Overall great experience for my first interview.
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I felt that it went smoother because I knew it was more of a personality assessment, but definitely recommend doing your research about potential questions and the program specifically.
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The SCO interview and facility really are impressive. More than that though they treat you like family there.
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Lots of good southern hospitality
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I thought that the interview went well. It should not be something that you would have to prepare extensively for. If preparation is done, though, I would recommend one mock interview, thinking about your reason for becoming an optometrist, and looking over your application (so you are prepared when they review your file after the one-on-one interview). Also, I would recommend researching some things about optometry currently to make sure you are up-to-date on it.
💬 Interview Process ▼
Length, number, and type of interviews
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Length:
41 Minutes Average
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Number:
1.1 Interviews Average
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Interview Type (Interaction):
100% One-on-One
0% Group Interview
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File Type:
0% Open-File
100% Closed-File
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Interview Modality:
0% Virtual
100% In-Person
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Interview Location (for In-Person):
100% At the School
0% Other Location
SCO-COMP interviews are an average of 41 minutes, with an average of 1.1 interviews. 100% of interviews are one-on-one, 100% are in-person, and 100% are closed-file. Of the in-person interviews, 100% are held at the school.
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools revolved around the candidate's motivations for pursuing optometry, their qualities as a future optometrist, leadership experiences, academic challenges faced, and future goals within the field. While specific questions varied, a notable emphasis was placed on understanding the candidate's personal and academic background, their interest in optometry, and their problem-solving skills in challenging situations. Some responses hinted at an MMI format and potential nondisclosure agreements due to references to nondisclosure and a structured interview setup.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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Why Optometry?
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What lead you to optometry?
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If optometrists were given the rights to do cataract surgery, would it be the same?
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Why do you want to be an optometrist?
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Give a time when you displayed leadership?
What was the most interesting question?
Students said most interesting question asked at Southern College of Optometry discussed a wide range of topics including personal struggles, future challenges in optometry, hobbies, and potential issues within the profession. While some responses mentioned specific questions like handling patient non-compliance and distinguishing between ophthalmologists and optometrists, there was no clear indication of an MMI format or nondisclosure agreement being involved in the interviews.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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How many credit hours do you typically take in a semester?
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What do you feel you struggle with the most/need to work the most on regarding yourself?
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What is an issue within optometry?
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What do you like about your hobbies?
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Do you foresee any problems/issues with the profession of optometry in the future (in regards to technology, etc.)?
How did you prepare for the interview?
Many applicants prepared for the interview by utilizing resources such as SDN forums, mock interviews, researching the school and current events in optometry, and practicing answering common interview questions. Suggestions included creating a document with potential questions and answers, seeking feedback from optometrists, and engaging in mock interviews to build confidence and familiarity with the interview process.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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I made a Google Doc with all of the common interview questions from SDN, Reddit, ChatGPT (to generate some questions), etc and made brief responses about what I wanted to convey from my answers. I also had a list of questions prepared to ask the interviewer.
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Look at this forums questions and answered those questions on a separate document prior to my interview.
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I watched a video about interviewing by SCO on YouTube. I just looked up interview questions and answered as many as I could in bullet form on a document.
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SDN
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Just a good night’s sleep.
What was the most difficult question?
Students said most difficult question asked at Southern College of Optometry discussed various topics including contributions to optometry, optometry legislation, challenges in the field, and the relationship between optometrists and ophthalmologists. The interviews may have been in an MMI format as some responses hinted at non-disclosure agreements, but common themes included addressing current legislation, future challenges in optometry, and personal attributes for being an ideal optometrist.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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No difficult questions were asked, all were very general and broad.
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How would you contribute/make a difference within optometry?
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Optometry Legislation in TN
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None they were all straightforward
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No question was difficult it was very conversational and straightforward
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were consistently impressed by the warm and welcoming atmosphere at the school, noting the friendliness of staff, faculty, and students as a significant positive. Additionally, the state-of-the-art facilities and emphasis on creating a sense of community and belonging were highlighted as key factors that left a positive impression on applicants.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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I liked how community-oriented the school is. Every student was familiar with the staff and it was very welcoming. The campus is generally well-known for their culture, and it is a big selling point for their school.
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The friendliness of everyone I met at the college, plenty of southern hospitality to go around.
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Due to Covid, I can only reflect on the interview and not the campus tour yet; however, it was very pleasant and the interviewers are friendly.
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Every single person was warm and welcoming! It felt very much like everyone was a part of one big family.
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Everybody on staff, top to bottom, was extremely warm and nice. The facility beautiful and state-of-the-art.
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants commonly expressed concerns about the safety and attractiveness of the city of Memphis, mentioning crime issues and unattractive surroundings. They suggested that the school address these concerns by providing more information and reassurance about safety measures in place and by highlighting the positive aspects of the location.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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The surrounding area is not the best part of town. However, the school does take security very seriously. The school itself is safe but not the area it's in.
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Nothing, everything went pretty smoothly.
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It was kind of intimidating since it was online. I felt that I had to keep talking to prevent long pauses. Also, I felt like it was less conversational and more like question-after-question.
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Nothing
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The building is old on the outside but inside makes up for it, it is clean and is more updated
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wished they had known to be more prepared for the interview, to not stress as much as it's more of a personality test, and to wear comfortable shoes for the long tour. They also mentioned the importance of eating a substantial breakfast for morning interviews and researching the school to answer specific questions about it.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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I wish I had been a little more prepared beforehand. The interviewer didn't ask any difficult questions, but I was more nervous because I didn't prepare as much as I wanted to.
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Not to stress as much about the interview, it is more of a personality test more than anything. The school wants to see that you are passionate about the field of optometry
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Nothing.
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Don’t wear heels all day because you’ll probably get blisters after walking around the campus.
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Eat a sizeable breakfast if you have a morning interview. You don’t eat again until after 1:00.
🤝 Campus and Facilities ▼
How do you rank the facilities?
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
How would you rate the Location and Cultural Life?
0 = Low, 10 = High
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants overwhelmingly praised the admissions office for their excellent communication, friendliness, and organization. They suggested continuing the personalized approach and maintaining the high level of support provided to applicants.
Top 5 Responses: (Click below to see additional responses)
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None, great job all around
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They're super on top of it!
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Maybe a small breakfast. But other than that the interview day was fantastic.
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None, I had a great experience
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I thought they did an excellent job.
📍 Travel and Logistics ▼
Airports Used
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MEM
33% interviewees used MEM (MEM), with 20% using Memphis (Memphis) and 13% using Memphis International (Memphis International) and 13% using Memphis International Airport (Memphis International Airport) and 7% using mem (mem) and 7% using Little Rock (Little Rock) and 7% using SEATAC (SEATAC).
What was your primary mode of transportation?
Most interviewees traveled by automobile to the interview.
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42% Airplane
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56% Automobile
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2% Train or Subway
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0% Other
Hotels Recommended by Other Interviewees
Most interviewees stayed at the Best Western Gen X (average ranking 7.8/10), with some staying at GenXInn (average rating 8.3/10). (Top 3 displayed)
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Best Western Gen X
7.8/10
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GenXInn
8.3/10
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Holiday Inn Express (2 blocks from SCO!)
8.5/10
What was the cost and time spent traveling?
Cost: Low Cost to High Cost
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents are out of state students.
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either Hotel or at a hotel.
Who was the tour given by?
Tours were most commonly given by a Student
Admissions staff (2%)
Student (98%)
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
Enthusiastic (93%)
Neutral (7%)
All Responses
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